How do SSRI's Interact with Maternal Physiology and Offspring Neurodevelopment?

Santillan Lab

We are looking for an undergraduate or post-graduate volunteer laboratory intern to help complete projects related to the prenatal and gestational impacts of SSRI use. Students will be exposed to a variety of wet lab and in silico techniques, including but not limited to evaluating maternal care and depression-like behaviors in mice, brain and placenta dissections and microdissections, animal necropsy, working with clinical samples (human placenta, maternal plasma, cord blood), and molecular techniques (qPCR, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, metabolomics). Students will have opportunities for data analysis, manuscript writing, and presenting. The Santillan Lab is a welcoming, positive environment that encourages creativity, teamwork, and scientific development! Past lab members have gone on to graduate school, medical school, nursing school, dental school, and related training programs.

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Contact: serena-gumusoglu@uiowa.edu

(Optional registration for URES:3992, 0-credit transcript recognition), Academic Credit (1-4 Semester Hours)

Developing novel rare cancer models of neuroendocrine tumors, pediatric cancer, and pancreas cancer.

Surgical Oncology Laboratory

We are seeking highly motivated students interested in learning basic and translation science to develop new cancer models and understand tumor metabolism. We highly welcome students interested in pursuing an Honors project on Independent Research or students interested in working as a research assistant during their postbac gap year to apply. Students will be trained to perform drug screening, immuno-fluorescent staining, protein engineering, etc. 

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Please send your CV to Dr. Po Ear (pohien-ear@uiowa.edu)

Volunteer (Optional registration for URES:3992, 0-credit transcript recognition)
Academic Credit (1-4 semester hours)
TBD

6 or more hours per week

Learning-Based High-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Multiparametric Quantitative MRI Group

Students are expected to code/run deep learning algorithms to solve specific problems in biomedical imaging.

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Please contact Xi Peng at xi-peng@uiowa.edu with CV/resume, interest, and transcript

Volunteer

Academic Credit

10 Hours/Week

Brain Mechanisms of Learning and Memory

Neuroscience of Learning and Memory Lab

We conduct research on the brain mechanisms underlying learning and memory in humans, rats, and mice. Our experiments involve cutting-edge neuroscience techniques to study how information is learned and stored in the brain. 

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Please contact John Freeman at john-freeman@uiowa.edu

Volunteer

Academic Credit

10 Hours/Week

Gastroenterology research about muscle layer and mucosa

Kurahashi Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Under the guidance of Dr. Kurahashi, a distinguished physician-scientist in the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology who joined the University of Iowa in 2021, we invite passionate undergraduates to delve into groundbreaking Gastroenterology research. Our team is committed to advancing our understanding of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, specifically focusing on its muscle layer and mucosa. Our ultimate aim is to translate our foundational scientific discoveries into clinical studies, paving the way for innovative treatments for GI diseases.

More Information:

Please email your CV/resume to masaaki-kurahashi@uiowa.edu.

Include a brief statement detailing your enthusiasm for our lab and Gastroenterology research, and provide a list of relevant courses and respective grades.

Academic Credit (1-4 Semester Hours)
Pay

Minimum of 10 hours weekly

Outcomes Research, Health Service & Policy, Biostatistics and Causal Inference

The Tanaka Lab

We welcome applications from undergraduate students at the University of Iowa who are interested in project-based biostatistics.

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5+ hours/week

Neural Mechanisms Underlying Motivated Behaviors

The Flippo Lab

We are looking for undergraduates interested in neuroscience research investigating how the brain influences reward seeking and fear behaviors.

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8 hrs/week

Mitochondria in cardiovascular disease

Grumbach Lab, cardiovascular disease

We study mitochondria and their role in cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis and small blood vessel disease). We are particularly interested how diabetes and cancer therapies damage mitochondria and hoe this leads to cardiovascular disease. We mostly use cells and mice for our studies, we also do some work in patients.

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10

Human Brain Research and Technologies

Iowa NeuroBank Core, Iowa Neuroscience Institute

This position offers hands-on experience and research skills by working with a human brain bank and associated technologies. You will assist with administrative tasks, research biospecimen collection, microscopic imaging, preparation of reagents and material, analysis of human specimens, and assisting the outreach events and workshops. Must be a current senior with a major in neuroscience, biology, or human physiology. More information.

10

Human rights in Culture, Religion, Politics, and Law

Souaiaia Lab, Religious Studies

Human rights in Culture, Religion, Politics, and Law; Media Narratives on Armed Conflicts; integrating research materials and primary sources into teaching and mentoring. The research project is interdisciplinary requiring the use of many tools and skills, including large data analysis, digital content creation, preliminary research answering specific research questions, and integration of digital content in classroom teaching. Students with any related skills and interests are encouraged to inquire. More information.

8-16

Physiology of ion transporting epithelia

Thornell Lab, Internal Medicine

Projects within the Thornell Laboratory in Internal Medicine are captured by the question “How do the different kinds of cells work together in an epithelium to orchestrate ion transport?”. More information

8-16

Understanding novel genes in cardiac and neurological systems and disease

Boudreau Lab, Internal Medicine

The Boudreau Lab is working to discover new genes that regulate healthy heart and brain functions. We are looking for energetic students who are interested in learning advanced techniques to help us with general lab duties.  More information

~20

Genetic regulation of endoderm development

Lin Lab, Anatomy and Cell Biology

The goal of our laboratory's research is to understand the genetic regulation of endoderm development, which is a germ layer critical for craniofacial structures and the digestive system. We use zebrafish as the animal model.  More information

8-15

Cystic fibrosis - pathologies and therapeutics

Engelhardt Lab, Anatomy and Cell Biology

The Engelhardt Lab focuses on cystic fibrosis disease pathologies and the development of novel therapeutics developed in both industry and academic settings.  More information

8-20

Diabetes & Peripheral Arterial Disease

Dokun Lab, Endocrinology, Internal Medicine

Dr. Dokun’s lab focuses on understanding how genetic factors and the metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes contribute to vascular diseases such as peripheral artery disease (PAD). All undergraduate volunteers will be involved in on going research projects.  More information

10-15 hours/week

Neurobiology of alcohol dependence and neurodegeneration

Alcohol and Neurodegeneration Lab, Neuroscience and Pharmacology

Our group is focused on understanding the molecular and circuit adaptations following alcohol abuse and chronic stress that predispose to psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative disease and infectious disease. More information

10-14

Central nervous system control of metabolic homeostasis and sleep-wake behavior

Cui Lab, Neuroscience and Pharmacology

Research projects in our lab aim to uncover the complex brain networks and signaling mechanisms that control metabolic homeostasis and sleep-wake behavior using mouse as a model organism. More information

10-15

Neurocognitive basis of parent-child interactions and child development

Development, Experience and Neurocognition Lab, Psychological and Brain Sciences

Research assistants will have the opportunity to assist with various lab procedures (e.g., collecting data during child lab visits, data management, and video coding of parent–child interactions). More information

10

Sleep disturbance in psychiatric disorders

Neurodevelopment and Psychopathology Lab, Psychological and Brain Sciences

Our focus is on defining the physiological features of sleep disturbances in psychiatric disorders, investigating their relations with symptoms and cognitive deficits, and examining the neural circuitry involved in these sleep deficits. More information.

10

Gene Regulatory Evolution

Gene Regulatory Evolution (GRE) Lab, Department of Biology

Evolution of stress response gene regulation in pathogenic yeasts

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2-3 hours per week

Effect of facemasks on jaw muscle tension

Robotics & Assistive Devices (RAD) Lab

Nerves send signals to our muscles telling them to contract. Sensors like EMG electrodes attached to the skin can read some of these electrical. Our lab is using EMG to study if wearing facemasks effects jaw muscle tension. We are looking for help in collecting the data and analyzing it (using MATLAB) in this human subject study. Join to learn about human research, sensors, and data analysis techniques in biomechanics research!

Flexible (~20-40hrs in summer, ~5-20hrs fall or spring)

Molecular basis and gene therapy of cystic fibrosis

Engelhardt Research Lab, Anatomy and Cell Biology

https://engelhardt.lab.uiowa.edu/

20 hours per week

Discovery of mechanisms of atherosclerosis regression and identification of RNA Aptamers that bind to specific cardiovascular tissues

Pereira Lab

The Pereira lab studies the role of mitochondrial dynamics and stress response pathways in cardiometabolic health.

10+ hours per week

Obesity, Diabetes, and CVD

Yang Lab, Anatomy and Cell Biology

Our research aims to identify the molecular components of integration between organelle stress responses that are in play in obesity and diabetes at the cellular and organismic levels.

flexible

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of Obesity/Diabetes

Yang Lab, Anatomy and Cell Biology

Our research aims to identify the molecular components of integration between organelle stress responses that are in play in obesity and diabetes at the cellular and organismic levels.

flexible

Gut Microbiome Interbacterial Interactions

Bosch Lab, Department of Pathology

The Bosch lab studies how bacteria interact in the gut microbiome in healthy people, and in the context of gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Our long term goal is to identify and target interbacterial responses important for human disease. We apply a broad range of techniques including metagenomic sequencing, proteomics, bacteriology, genetics, and structural biology. Please see our website for details and ongoing projects.

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Volunteer (Optional registration for URES:3992, 0-credit transcript recognition)
Academic Credit (1-4 Semester Hours)

At least 10 hours per week

Mechanisms by ion channels and transporters mediate transport of ions across cellular membranes

Chowdhury Lab, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

The Chowdhury Lab is interested in understanding how ions and small molecules are transported across the oily cellular membranes. Such processes are not only critical for cellular survival, they underlie the electrical activity of neurons, cardiac myocytes etc. The lab specializes in membrane protein biochemistry and biophysics and uses multi-disciplinary approaches to determine atomic resolution snapshots of protein complexes, mediating these transport processes, at different stages of their function. The long term objective is to stitch these snapshots together to create "movies" of the millisecond dynamics of the proteins to explain how genetic mutations in these proteins lead to pathologies and how small molecule modulators may be used to correct the aberrant dynamics of these proteins.

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Minimum 10 hours per week

Intestinal immune responses, graft-versus-host disease and the graft-versus-tumor effect

Ince Lab, Department of Internal Medicine

We are open to applications from undergraduate students at the University of Iowa, who are interested in learning basic immunology and participate in our studies on immune regulation of graft-versus-host disease and the graft-versus-tumor effect in preclinical bone marrow transplant models. Bone marrow transplantation is mostly performed to treat a hematological malignancy, such as leukemia or myeloma. Transplantation procedure from donor to recipients also includes transfer of peripheral blood donor lymphocytes, which are critical to maintaining the anti-tumor response (the graft-versus-tumor effect) to prevent the regrowth of leukemia or myeloma. Same donor lymphocytes cause a lethal disease, called the graft-versus-host disease. Our laboratory investigates immune regulatory pathways that play a role in suppressing or preventing the graft-versus-host disease but still preserve the graft-versus-tumor effect. We look forward to working with motivated undergraduate students and prepare them to the next level in their career.

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15-20 hours per week

Understanding the roles of epigenetic changes in breast cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to therapies

Yi Huang Lab, Department of Internal Medicine

The ongoing project in Huang lab is to elucidate how overexpression of histone demethylase LSD1 leads to aggressive phenotype of TNBC and how targeting LSD1 with novel inhibitors overcomes tumor resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies. We are also studying whether targeting crosstalk between epigenetic modulators and immune compartments could serve as a novel therapeutic approach for poorly immune responsive breast cancer.

All undergraduate students will participate in our ongoing research projects, lab meetings and presentations. Prior biomedical research experience is desired, but training will also be provided. Our goal is to offers the opportunity for undergraduate students to work on both basic and translational science using molecular biology tools and animal models. The trainees will also have the opportunity to publish work as co-author in cancer research journals.

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Academic Credit (1-4 Semester Hours)
Pay

10-15 hours per week

Experimental fluid dynamics, Naval hydrodynamics, Flow diagnosis

Wang Lab

For undergraduate students who are interested in experimental fluid dynamics, there are several on-going research projects.

More information

Email Dr. Cong Wang directly with the title "UI undergraduate research in Wang lab"

Volunteer (Optional registration for URES:3992, 0-credit transcript recognition), Academic Credit (1-4 Semester Hours), Pay

At least 10 hours per week, up to 40 hours in the summer.